News

NSW innovators to participate in the world’s biggest green business ideas competition.

Climate-KIC Australia today launched the Australian 2019 edition of the world’s largest green business ideas competition, ClimateLaunchpad.

With opportunities for Australian applicants in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, ClimateLaunchpad is set up to help aspiring innovators, entrepreneurs and early stage start-ups grow their cleantech ideas into global businesses.

Globally, ClimateLaunchpad brings in clean-technology and green business ideas from over 50 countries across 5 continents. The program is part of the entrepreneurship offerings of Climate-KIC Australia’s collaboration partner the European Union’s innovation initiative for climate change, EIT Climate-KIC.

The competition looks for anyone with an innovation idea in renewable energy, energy efficiency, food and agriculture, water, transportation, industrial technology or any other way to tackle climate change. Whether an idea is still on the back of a napkin or a fledged early stage start-up, everyone is most welcome to apply.

In New South Wales, selected applicants are provided with rigorous training at an intensive two-day Boot Camp, led by a renowned European entrepreneur and start-up trainer. Leading teams are also given mentoring from industry leaders and former participants, culminating in a National Pitch Final in October, with the top two competitors joining the Global Grand Final in November 2019.

The competition will be co-led by EnergyLab in Sydney, a climate innovation centre focused on supporting new businesses and technological initiatives that move Australia towards 100% clean energy solutions.

“We have been partnering with Climate-KIC Australia for several years now, and we’ve seen such a great quality of high-impact ideas coming out of the ClimateLaunchpad program,” said Piers Grove, Chair at EnergyLab. “It really speaks to the enormous potential we have right here in our local community to generate world-changing solutions to climate change.”

The two most promising start-ups from each state will then compete in the National Finals in October, with the top two competitors joining the other winners from all competing countries in the Global Grand Pitch Final in November 2019.

Global Finalists present their ideas to an audience of start-up accelerator programs, angel investors and professional networks that can help them kick-start their businesses and expose them to the global market. The world’s top-10 best ideas win access to the EIT Climate-KIC accelerator program. The overall winner of the Global Grand Pitch Final also receives a cash prize of €10,000 (about AU$16,000), the runner up gets €5,000 (~ AU$8,000) and the team that comes in third place wins €2,500 (~ AU$4,000).

“ClimateLaunchpad was a complete gamechanger for us. We went from having what we thought was a pretty solid idea, to a fully-fledged plan for taking our product to market, which has enabled us to commence our seed funding round, with a really promising outlook” – Cesira Leigh, Founder of Sunovate, ClimateLaunchpad 2018 Australian winner.

Information about ClimateLaunchpad, how to enter the competition and updates are available at https://climate-kic.org.au/our-programs/launchpad/

Industry News

Investa achieves first Science Based Target approval in Australia

Investa today announced it has achieved Australia’s first approved real estate Science Based Target, verifying Investa’s ambitious, net zero carbon emissions by 2040 target and re-enforcing Investa’s leadership in committing to the rigour and quality of this globally recognised framework.

Fujitsu's NABERS rating of its data centre portfolio

Psaros wins two prestigious sustainability awards

Source: Infolink

Leading Western Australian property developer Psaros was the recipient of two prestigious awards for sustainable development, cementing the company’s position as the leader in environmental design and sustainable practices in Perth.

In a first for a WA developer, Psaros won the National Banksia Sustainability Award for Sustainability Leadership as well as the CitySwitch State Award for New Signatory of the Year.

Geelong, CBRE and Echo big winners at national CitySwitch awards

Source: The Fifth Estate A project that slashed carbon emissions by 43 per cent has seen Future Proofing Geelong and Ryrie Centre Property take home the National Partnership of the Year Award at the national CitySwitch awards for commercial office energy efficiency.

CBRE took home the National Signatory of the Year award following their NSW win, while another NSW winner, Echo Entertainment Group, took home the National New Signatory of the Year award

Smart, green finance delivering efficient buildings in Sydney

Source: Retrofit AustraliaIn June, the City of Sydney signed an Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) to fund energy efficient lighting, air conditioning and building management system (BMS) upgrades to James’ Hall in Sydney. Under these agreements tenants provide contributions equal to or less than the savings they make in their utility bills as a result of the upgrade works. These contributions can then be used by the building owner to service the loan repayments and greatly improve the return on investment. In addition, once the EUA is paid off, the tenants and building owner continue to benefit from reduced utility bills.

The Tenants and Landlords Guide to Happiness (chapter 8)

Source: The Fifth Estate

Despite the best intentions, most building owners and tenants struggle to keep up regular communication that could enhance their efficient use of the building, improve wellbeing of employees and substantially cut their business costs.

Find out more about the CitySwitch Vertical Communities initiative, the benefits of collaboration from industry and successful tenant and landlord staff engagement programs in this latest chapter.

How the Renewable Energy Target affects your business

Source: The Fifth Estate

Changes to the RET could have significant implications for businesses wanting to take steps to reduce carbon footprints. Darren Willman from Climate Friendly a CitySwitch signator, discusses the impact of changes to the RET and why businesses should want to defend it in this article for The Fifth Estate.

CitySwitch partners with RMIT students to deliver resource assessments

Source: The Fifth EstateCommercial office tenant energy efficiency program CitySwitch has partnered with graduating environment students from RMIT to deliver resource assessments for participating signatories in Melbourne. There is only availability for 10-12 businesses this year, with only current CitySwitch signatories eligible.

Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points)

The submitting entity MUST be a CitySwitch Signatory

Note, Signatories submitting for the Partnership of the Year Award may submit an accredited NABERS tenancy, whole building or base building rating.

It’s easy and free to join the program. Your good-will commitment to the program is an acknowledgement of the business sector’s role in
contributing to environmental sustainability and your intention to reduce your own energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

As part of this, Signatories to the program commit to achieve an accredited NABERS Energy tenancy rating (between 4 and 6 stars) and
work with CitySwitch to improve their tenancy’s environmental performance.

Find out more about how obtaining a NABERS Energy rating ensures you can benchmark your performance, better manage your progress
over time and promote your star rating achievement.